Ayres Hotel, Redlands, CA

Exciting news! The beautiful new Ayres Hotel in Redlands, CA is due to open Sept. 22, 2008. Ayres Hotel Redlands (here is a link, just in case you need a hotel in my area). Three of my paintings from my University of Redlands series have been chosen for the ceramic murals that will adorn the lobby and the dining room. This is a very exciting new venture for me, Hotel business! Today, my hubby and I took a ride over to the hotel to see the progress. The photo on your left is of the mural in the lobby. This mural is a painting that I did of the Chapel at the University of Redlands during their 100th Anniversary. We took the painting and divided it into thirds for the 3 archways. When the other two in the dining room are complete I will send photos of those also.

Meanwhile, Abbe and I leave tomorrow for Frankenmuth, MI for the Afghan Hound Club of America National Specialty. We are taking one dog "Apache" for the Starlight competition. Since Abbe is president of the AHCA neither of us are allowed to show our dogs in regular competition. I will, however, have a booth to show and sale my artwork which I do every year and yes, Harmony is in tow! My booth number is 12 so be sure to look me up! Lots of new things to show.

So you won't be hearing from me until I return on Oct. 1, 2008. It's a long drive, but we are anxious to get started. I do have my painting gear and I am hoping to be able to paint some scenes while in Frankenmuth and possibly on the way there or home. Until next time,

ENJOY THE ART!

Terry

CERAMIC MURALS BY TERRY d. CHACON (coming soon to my website)

Idyllwild Paint Out 2008

Please note: In order to view the full article/post, please press on either the title to this post or at the bottom of the email, press on the link to weekly paintings by Terry d. Chacon.

Idyllwild, Ca. Paint Out 2008. On early Sat. morning a group of us headed to the mountains for a wonderful day of plein air painting for the 10th Annual Idyllwild Paint Out. A few of us had attended a few years ago and had a great time. The event is usually on Labor Day weekend and I have been unable to go, but this year they changed it to the weekend after. I was very happy to see that and sent in my application. We were to pick up our name badges and maps at 8 a.m. We arrived in plenty of time and even had time for a light breakfast and coffee. The weather was just perfect. Nice and cool sweatshirt weather in the morning, with warming temps for the afternoon, but nothing too hot! Idyllwild is such a wonderful little mountain community. The shops are filled with artist wares and many of the shops are ran by the artists themselves. Quite a few fine art galleries were open also. Here is a link to find out some history of this wonderful little mountain town. Idyllwild CA I picked out a place to paint so I would have full view of the Lily Rock and shade for the day. We were to turn in one painting by 3 a.m. so I wanted to try for 2 so I would have a choice.

My first painting was a close up view of Tahquitz Peak also known as Lily Rock. There are quite a few myths about how it got it's name and one of them is published in the local magazine. Here is another post that I found online for you to read. SummitPost - Tahquitz Rock (Lily Rock) -- Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering Anyway the Peak is a landmark that most artist like to paint. This was early morning and I loved the way the light hit the top of the peak and the tips of the trees below.



I then took a little break and decided to try another painting standing in the same spot so I didn't have to move all my gear and be well shaded as it was starting to get warm in the sun. This painting was a lot more complicated as I wanted to do the street scene in the little town before me and of course emphasize one of the roads through town to Lily Rock. After painting I went to the car to frame the painting. It seemed to be a very messy morning of painting, as I kept getting paint on me and having to stop to clean myself up. When I turned my painting over to frame it I set it on a pillow case that I used to carry my frames and of course paint smeared on the painting. After fixing it once, I did it again. This time I actually had to get a brush out and fix the sky. Anyway I was done in plenty of time with my exhibit for the show so all was well. My friend Pat was also finished with her 2 paintings so we visited the galleries and waited for the 3 p.m. deadline to turn the paintings in for judging. After a very nice dinner at a Mexican Restaurant we started down the hill to go home for the night. I think next year it would be fun to get a hotel for the weekend. We just have to make plans well in advance as there are not many hotels and most are booked ahead of time.





The following morning we drove back up the hill and attended a very nice reception for the artists who had attended the Paint Out. Pat's friend Lilly made the trip with us and as always Lilly is great fun and very supportive of the arts. At the reception, it was a lot of fun viewing the different paintings from several artists and their interpretations of the town of Idyllwild.


Here is a photo of me in the gallery next to my painting "Morning Shadows at Tahquitz Peak."

Here is a photo of Joan Coffey from our group who won an honorable mention with her painting. Congratulations Joan!

This is Pat Ford and her pastel painting.

This is Susan De'Armond and her watercolor painting of Lily Rock.

Geeta Pattanaik another member of PAAR and her painting in Idyllwild. We all had such a great time and will be sure to go back next year for another couple cool days in the San Jacinto mountains.

Until next time, Enjoy the ART! Terry

"Tootsie"

"Tootsie"

Sorry I have been so late on my weekly paintings, but I can assure you I have been very busy with commissions and getting ready for the Afghan Hound Club of America Nationals starting Sept. 21 in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Afghan Hound Club of America, Inc. I wanted to share with you a painting I just completed of "Tootsie". I really like the way this turned out and I will be doing a series of these paintings of several of our own personal dogs. If you would like something like this of your dog, please email me for details. They are fun and different. The canvas is 15 by 30 inches wrap around so you don't really need a frame. The photo I used for reference for this painting was taken when Tootsie won the Afghan Hound Club of America Breeders Cup under Floyd Gale at the age of 14 months. Tootsie is now 4 years old and the mother of 5 babies born June 18, 2008.

See photo below. Pictured at 4 weeks.

The puppies are now 11 weeks old and are back living with the co-breeder Abbe Shaw in Santa Barbara. After the Afghan Hound Nationals we will split the litter and I will bring home the 2 girls and Abbe will keep the 3 boys. They are all looking very beautiful at this point and neither Abbe nor I can make any decisions at this point. The photo only has 4 puppies, one fell over just as I snapped the photo. We have high hopes that these puppies out of Ch. Abaca ShaCone Native Spirit and Ch. ShaCone Abaca Delovely will make their debut at the next Afghan Hound Club of America Breeder's Cup 2009. Info for this upcoming event can be found at:

Afghan Hound Club of America, Inc. Press on the link above and scroll down to Breeder's Cup 2009 and press on that link for details.

Until next time, enjoy the ART and give your doggies a big hug. Terry d. Chacon